Near Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi, there is a café called The Note Coffee, where the walls, ceiling, and staircase are covered from top to bottom in colorful sticky notes. Since opening in 2012, the café has accumulated layer upon layer of messages left by visitors, turning the entire interior into something like a giant guestbook. The concept of letting guests add their own note and become part of the space has drawn travelers from around the world. Its location right beside the lake also makes it an easy stop during a stroll through Hanoi's Old Quarter.
A Café Near Hoan Kiem Lake, Wrapped in Sticky Notes All the Way to the Upper Floors
The shop is at 64 Luong Van Can Street in Hoan Kiem district. Close to Hoan Kiem Lake, it looks out over the lake and the bustling streets. The building is split across several floors, and every floor is filled with sticky notes written by visitors. You order and pay on the first floor, and once you find a seat you like upstairs, staff bring your drink to you.
"An interior made by customers," accumulating since 2012
Since opening on December 24, 2012, the café has been collecting the words of its visitors. A 2023 feature by Dân Việt noted that the sticky notes, which at first covered only the walls, gradually spread to the ceiling and chairs as the number of customers grew. The layers of colorful paper are a record of the time the café has shared with travelers. The sight of messages in different languages from visitors all over the world covering every surface is striking, and the interior itself is the result of a collective effort by everyone who has ever visited. Wandering between seats in search of a note that catches your eye is one way to enjoy the space.
You can join in by sticking up a note of your own
The heart of this café is that you can participate, not just observe. Write a message on a sticky note and put it wherever you like, and you become part of the décor yourself. Many visitors leave their date and name as a travel memento, and there is even the pleasure of coming back later to find your own note. What makes this place distinctive is that you can leave a few words of your own rather than simply taking photos. If you are not sure what to write, try jotting down somewhere you walked that day or something you liked along the way.
Menu and Reference Prices (Previously Published Prices, with Yen Conversions)
The signature item is egg coffee, a Vietnamese specialty. Coconut coffee frappés and light bites such as croissants are also available. The table below shows price examples published in the past and does not guarantee current prices or sizes. For egg coffee, the combination of sweet cream and coffee is the draw; on a day when you want something cold, a coconut-based drink is a good option to consider.
| Menu | Price |
|---|---|
| Egg coffee (12 oz) | About 60,000 VND (about 342 yen) |
| Coconut coffee (12 oz) | About 60,000 VND (about 342 yen) |
| Croissant | About 27,000 VND (about 154 yen) |
| Pain au chocolat | About 30,000 VND (about 171 yen) |
The yen figures are calculated using an example rate of 10,000 VND to approximately 57 yen; the actual amount you pay will vary depending on the in-store price and the exchange rate. Egg coffee, made with whipped egg yolk for a rich sweetness, is a Hanoi specialty that is popular with tourists.
Opening hours and tips for visiting
A visit report on Coffeehan (updated September 2023) lists the hours as 8:00–22:30 Monday to Thursday, 8:00–23:00 on Fridays, and 7:00–23:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. The table below organizes that published information; if you plan to visit early in the morning or close to closing time, it is worth checking the latest opening hours as well. If you want to relax with a view of the lake, start by checking whether a window seat is available. If reading the sticky notes is your main goal, rather than focusing only on the view, you might enjoy choosing a seat where interesting messages seem to cluster.
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Mon–Thu / Fri | Mon–Thu 8:00–22:30 / Fri 8:00–23:00 |
| Sat & Sun | 7:00〜23:00 |
Summary
The Note Coffee is a "participatory" café built up over more than a decade from sticky notes left by customers. The experience of adding your own words and becoming part of the interior adds an easy memory to sightseeing in Hanoi's Old Town. If you're strolling around Hoan Kiem Lake, stop by and leave a note of your own.
Related articles:
・A café with edible cups (Hanoi)
・The 2-liter matcha café
・Michelin-listed banh mi
Source:Airial / Instagrammable places in Hanoi / Coffeehan / The Note Coffee review
